What is the best time to start helmet therapy in plagiocephaly?
What is the best time to start helmet therapy in plagiocephaly?
Conclusions: Optimal starting age for helmet therapy is months 5 to 6 of life, and early recognition of infants in need is essential. Delaying the onset of treatment significantly deteriorates the outcome.
How can I shape my baby’s head?
How is an uneven head shape treated?
- Change direction. Continue to place your baby on his or her back to sleep, but alternate the direction your baby’s head faces when you place him or her in the crib.
- Hold your baby.
- Try tummy time.
What should I do if my baby has deformational plagiocephaly?
The first steps in treating deformational plagiocephaly are changing your baby’s head position (repositioning), maximizing tummy time and minimizing time in infant devices. Some babies may need to wear a cranial orthotic helmet. Many cases will improve with conservative treatment alone, provided attention is directed early to the problem.
Can a helmet help with positional plagiocephaly?
Helmets are very effective for positional plagiocephaly when fitted and worn properly. The duration of treatment will depend on the severity of the flattening and the age at the start of treatment and will be monitored by an orthotist. Helmets must be prescribed by a health care provider who has experience with this treatment.
How is Doc band used to treat positional plagiocephaly?
An alternative technique, Dynamic Orthotic CranioplastySM (DOC Band®), was developed as a more proactive approach in treating positional plagiocephaly. In this technique, the device is specifically designed to apply gentle pressure to the area of the head where growth was not wanted, while leaving space where growth was needed.
How does the plagiocephaly scale help medical professionals?
*This evaluation tool is provided to assist medical professionals in determining the appropriate course of treatment for their patients. Individual cases may vary. Recommendations are included as examples and should not be considered a substitute for individual evaluation, diagnosis and treatment decisions made by a medical professional.